ArtistShare was the first crowdfunding website on the Internet which allows creative artists to fund their projects utilizing a "fan-funding" model. ArtistShare allows the general public to directly finance, watch the creative process, and in most cases gain access to extra material from an artist. It has since been copied by sites such as Kickstarter and Indie GoGo.
In 2005 Maria Schneider's recording Concert in the Garden was the first recording to receive a Grammy award while not being available in retail stores. It was an ArtistShare fan-funded project.
by ArtistsForJustice March 25, 2012